Missouri lawmakers will convene today over a new congressional map that could split Kansas City into three districts.

Why it matters: The redistricting effort could break up Kansas City's strong Democratic district and create another Republican seat in Congress.

Driving the news: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Friday announced a special session starting Wednesday in the hopes of enacting the new "Missouri First" map.

• The governor also thanked President Trump for "raising the level of conversation on this matter."
• Trump says he wants to gain 100 congressional seats ahead of the midterm and has attacked anti-gerrymandering rules.

Zoom in: The newly proposed map would redraw District 4 to include downtown KC south along Troost Avenue through Waldo.

• That means the city's densest populations — plus residents in Grandview, Lee's Summit and Blue Springs — would end up voting for the same representative as more rural voters from as far away as the Lake of the Ozarks.

Context: In the current map, nearly all of Kansas City — plus some of the biggest suburbs on the Missouri side of the metro — is represented in District 5.

• Under the new map, District 5 would extend to central Missouri but would not include Columbia.
• All of Clay County would end up in District 6, which covers the entire northern part of the state.

What they're saying: Kehoe's communication director, Gabrielle Picard, tells Axios they used the state Senate's 34-district map to redraw the eight congressional boundaries and that the new map splits fewer counties across the state.

Between the lines: Missouri's constitution says redistricting should happen after the census every 10 years and districts should be "as compact… as can be."

• The state must also follow federal law, which prohibits drawing boundaries that disenfranchise racial groups.
• The new map divides Kansas City along Troost Avenue, which has historically been used to shape the city through redlining.

The other side: "Any attempt to implement a mid-decade gerrymander that silences the legitimate voices of communities across Western Missouri will be met with a strong legal challenge," District 5 Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D) tells Axios.

• "Kansas City deserves a unified voice in the United States Congress," Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a video on X.

What's next: Missouri's House and Senate will begin the session at noon today.

• The General Assembly will also discuss making it harder for voters to pass state amendments.

September marks six months since I became a big through Big Brothers Big Sisters KC.

Why it matters: I wouldn't have called myself the Grinch before I met my little, but my heart has certainly grown three sizes since then.

The big picture: Nearly 200 kids across the metro are looking for big brothers and sisters who can provide the kind of reliable adult relationship they crave.

Between the lines: It's not about bigs being saviors. It's about kids having more adults their network of support. After all, it takes a village.

What to expect: It's a long, detailed application process, which can be difficult, but for good reason.

• And the little moments — shooting hoops, smiling over smoothies, sharing life together — leave an indelible impression.

💬 Travis' thought bubble: I melted when my little brought me some sand and a few shells from his summer trip to the beach.

The bottom line: If you have the time and a heart for helping, you could make a big difference in a little's life.

🎟️ Signups for World Cup Visa presale tickets open Sept. 10 through Sept. 19. Those who sign up will be randomly selected to purchase tickets starting Oct. 1. (KSHB)

🌳 PortKC proposed adopting about 230 acres of land along the Missouri River as part of a plan to remake the East Bottoms' Riverfront Park. Mayor Quinton Lucas signaled his support on X. (Kansas City Star)

💰 SomeraRoad, the company behind a massive West Bottoms redevelopment project, bought City Club Apartments on Main Street in the Crossroads after the previous owners struggled to fill its units and pay its debts. (KC Business Journal)

Average fall temperatures are rising almost universally nationwide, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: Warmer falls could increase cooling demand (and cause bigger bills and more strain on the electric grid), affect growing and allergy seasons, and have health impacts for vulnerable groups.

Zoom in: Kansas City saw a modest increase (+1.9°F), while bigger differences were seen in Topeka (+3.2°F) and St. Louis (+3.7°F).

• Reno, Nevada, saw the biggest increase (+7.7°F).
• Only three of the examined cities had a decrease: Gainesville, Florida; Macon, Georgia; and Harrisonburg, Virginia, all dropping by -0.2°F.

Zoom out: Between 1970 and 2024, average fall temperatures rose in 98% of the 243 cities analyzed in a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group.

• Among cities with an increase, temperatures rose an average of 2.8°F.

How it works: Climate Central's report is based on NOAA data, and defines "fall" as the entirety of September, October and November (meteorological fall).

• Astronomical fall, on the other hand, doesn't start till Sept. 22 this year.

What's next: The Climate Prediction Center's latest seasonal outlook for fall forecasts above-normal temperatures for most of the country, especially in the Southwest and Northeast.